It's time to switch to sustainable fabric: Cupro

Ethical fashion geeks are super excited at the prospects of another sustainable fabric taking the industry by storm — and it’s called cupro. There aren’t many people who know just how versatile this sustainable, vegan fabric can be and we’re here to set the record straight. Cupro is perfect for silky-soft blouses, dresses, pajamas and everything in between. It’s a washable sustainable fabric used to make long-lasting, high-quality garments.

On that note, let’s go ahead and address some of the most popular questions about cupro fabric.

What is cupro fabric?

Cupro, short for “cuprammonium rayon”, is a plant-based fabric made from cotton linter — a waste product of cotton that’s often discarded in textile factories. It can also be extracted from recycled cotton garments, especially t-shirts. Alternative names for cupro fabric are cupra, ammonia silk, and Bemberg; however, it’s most often referred to as cupro.

What are the properties of cupro fabric?

Cupro is one of the most versatile fabrics on the market. Here’s a list of its main properties.

• It’s 100% sustainable, making it a great choice among the selection of biodegradable fabrics out there.
• It’s fine, sheer, smooth, and soft to the touch. For this reason, cupro is often referred to as “vegan silk”.
• It’s durable, stretch-resistant, hypoallergenic, and dries faster than most fabrics.
• It’s easy to wash due to the durable nature of the fabric. A delicate machine wash is all it takes to keep cupro garments clean.

Above all else, cupro fabric comes in a range of colours. Many designers and fabric buyers opt for white cupro or black cupro since these colours pair well with a range of patterns. There’s also the option of a cupro viscose blend that has a similar texture to cotton. Viscose is a semi-synthetic fabric made from wood pulp. It’s often blended with cupro to make an affordable fabric perfect for a variety of garments.

How is cupro made?

Cupro is made using tiny cotton fibres called linter that are too small to spin. The linter is dissolved into a cuprammonium solution — a mixture of copper and ammonium. Thereafter, it’s dipped in caustic soda and spun into fabric fibre. Voila!

Thousands of fabric-makers in China have mastered the art of making cupro in order to sell it to a global market. However, there are Europe-based fabric makers that are changing the game by providing high-quality cupro at competitive prices.

How come cupro is considered a sustainable fabric?

Given the fact that cupro is plant-based, it falls under the category of vegan and cruelty-free — a step in the right direction. Unlike silk which comes from silkworms, the production of cupro doesn’t involve any animals or insects. More so, the fabric is machine-washable, which is more eco-friendly than the dry cleaning that most delicate clothing pieces require.

If you hadn’t heard of cupro before, we’re glad to have provided a bit of insight into this versatile fabric. Although it’s only become popular in the last few years, cupro actually dates back to the 1890s with origins in Japan. It’s a trusted textile that lends itself to the vegan, cruelty-free movements of the 21st century. What are you waiting for? Get your hands on some silky smooth cupro here.